|Lower Tonquani Kloof, Magaliesberg

Brief summary of venue

Lower Tonquani is a beautiful, long kloof with crystal clear pools, shady spots and classic climbs congregated around the lower section of the kloof near the Cedarberg Kloof/ Tonquani/ Boulder Kloof junction.

Permit/ permission info

Land owned by the MCSA, so open to MCSA members and guests (1 guest per member) otherwise permits are required. Contact the MCSA Johannesburg Section for permits. - Contact admin@jhb.msa.org.za

There are various ways to walk into Lower Tonquani, including: Cedarberg Kloof: This is strenuous, steep but very scenic walk, taking between 45 to 60 minutes. Abseiling down Frog Gully: Frog Gully is near the bottom end of Cedarberg Kloof, but be careful as it is very steep and slippery, especially when wet. Takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Boulder Kloof: The walk in to the top of Boulder Kloof is over relatively easy terrain, and takes between 40 minutes to an hour. The walk down Boulder Kloof to Lower Tonquani/ Cedarberg Kloof isquite steep with big boulders, taking another 20 minutes.

Accommodation

Camping is available at the top end of Cedarberg Kloof at the top of Grey Gully - no facilities available apart from a cage to store food. Otherwise Mountain Sanctuary Park has camping and chalets, as well as ablution facilities and a small shop selling cold drinks and ice-cream.

Availability of water for drinking

There’s water all year in the kloof, which is safe to drink.

Climbing route guide

The MCSA has published a route guide, Rock Climbing Routes in the Tonquani Complex’, which is available from them; otherwise there’s an online guide at: www.saclimb.co.za/magaliesberg/lowertonq.html

Climbing information

This is a long section of the kloof with over 120 trad routes on excellent rock. The climbs are mostly multi-pitch with a range of grades from 7 to 26, including a number of classic climbs of all grades. Some 90 metre and longer climbs, with superb views, can be found in the area where Cedarberg Kloof intersects Tonquani.

Child friendly

Yes, if 12 years and up as the walk in is long, and can be tricky - with steep sections, pools to boulder hop and wade and boulders to navigate.

Swimming

Yes.

Camp fires

No.

Other attractions

Crystal clear pools to swim in, a wide variety of birds, animals and plants and beautiful scenery to inspire photographers and artists. Kloofing from Upper to Lower Tonquani is a great way to explore the kloof - but be very careful when negotiating the traverse above the Help-Help Pool (which separated Tonquani) as the rock is extremely slippery.

Dangers

The general area has had muggings, so be alert. The accessfrom Upper to Lower Tonquani using the traverse above the Help-Help Pool is overpolished rock and hazardous to inexperienced parties.

To all Mountain club members in Gauteng - please note that due to some attempted access to our properties during lockdown we would like to reiterate that access is suspended until relevant lockdown regulations deem it legal. Currently, we suspect that this will only be in level 2 or 1 as both inter-provincial travels is required (Magaliesberg is largely in the North-West) and, more critically, hiking and climbing are not considered essential activities.